Sindh announces holiday for all educational institutions on January 17

Public and private schools, colleges and educational institutions will remain closed on Shab-e-Meraj

The Sindh government has announced a holiday for all educational institutions across the province, including Karachi, on January 17.

The notification, issued by the Sindh Education Department, states that both public and private schools, colleges and other educational institutions will remain closed on the day in observance of Shab-e-Meraj.

The holiday falls on a Saturday, when most schools in the province are already closed. The department’s notification serves as a formal directive to ensure compliance across all educational institutions.

Earlier, Sindh government had revised school timings across the province.

Read: Sindh alters school timings amid chilly weather

Sindh Education Minister Sardar Shah issued the directive to adjust school hours in order to help students cope with the cold, following which the Education Department released an official notification.

Severe Cold Wave Across Sindh

Schools will NOT remain closed but the opening time has been revised.

All public and private schools will now open at 9:00 AM instead of 8:00 AM. pic.twitter.com/niw9XHzyYx

— Minister Education & Literacy Government of Sindh (@MinisterEduGos) January 10, 2026

According to the notification, both public and private schools will now open at 9 am, while their closing times will remain unchanged.

The decision is set to remain in effect from Monday until January 26.

Read more: Sindh may shut schools for winter vacations in January from next session

On the other hand, the Sindh Education and Literacy Department has begun considering a revision of the winter vacation schedule for schools starting from the academic session 2026–27, in view of the increasing severity of cold weather in January instead of December.

According to officials, the proposed change is being contemplated due to shifting weather patterns observed over recent years. The matter is set to be included in the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the Education Department’s Steering Committee. If approved, winter vacations across Sindh, including Karachi, would begin in January rather than during the last ten days of Decemb